so your vision is never lost.

LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS

 
React Quickly: Prevent Slow Death
Running an organization is like flying an airplane, although it is not as dramatic. When an airplane has a warning light go on, the crew reacts. In business, too often leaders wait to see what happens…and they wait…and they wait… and by the time the crash occurs, it is too late. We have identified seven typical situations where we see slow death occur within organizations. Leaders in these situations must make changes to get to a new and better reality. […]
Lean Processes In 2015: How Today’s Business Leaders Are Improving Efficiency
99% of the population, and even most employees in a growing company, hear that growth has been robust, and they think how pleasurable life must be for upper management. Of course, we know that nothing could be further from the truth. When you start a company, you only need to be good at what you do. Even if your idea isn’t the best and your execution is subpar, if you work hard enough you’ll experience at least moderate success. The […]
Get One and Make It ‘Shtick’
  In order to create a successful business you have to have a great product or service, an intelligent, dedicated team to support you and a way to get in front of the right people to spread the message. If you are looking for a shortcut to getting noticed quicker you may consider creating a shtick. The shtick doesn’t have to be brazen and bold, but it has to be memorable to work, something people will not forget. In a […]
Recognize and Avoid The Perils of Extroverted Leadership
The boardroom of a company is often filled with a bevy of extroverts. That comes as no surprise; outgoing and authoritative, extroverts are natural leaders. Extroverted leaders prize communication, openness, and group work, and they get their energy through socialization—all of which makes an extrovert a great fit for the head of a company or an organization. In fact, according to the Harvard Business Review, 60% of senior-level managers identified as extroverts—and a full 65% said that introversion would be […]
Six Different Approaches to Bonus Programs
The goal of a bonus program is to motivate employees to achieve results in valuable way for everyone. In other words, they should be designed to get everyone from the receptionist to management to leadership to owners all “rowing the boat in the same direction”. Sometimes though, bonus programs are poorly set up, measure the wrong results, set people against each other and/or do not communicate what is happening until after the fact Below is a brief history of bonus […]
Bowling With Your Boss: Evaluation Cruelty
Imagine bowling with your boss… You throw the ball down the lane, but your boss has a sheet between you and the pins. You hear something happening, lots of noise, but no idea of what actually happened. How many pins are left standing? Where are they? Was that perhaps a gutter ball? You then ask how you are doing and the response is, “don’t worry about it, I will tell you at the end of the year.” Imagine this happening […]
Truth is Stranger Than Fiction
Experienced leaders often know a few factors that are absolutely critical to the success of an organization. When they consider joining or acquiring a business, they look for these same factors. One of these is so vital that without it, not only is progress at risk, but the very existence of the organization maybe in jeopardy. Organizations that successfully do acquisitions know this secret.   The secret factor is the magic of the heart. It is the reason we get […]
Joy is the Magic Behind Success
  Sometimes in business we lose joy in the day-to-day grind of business, our tasks, and in our interactions with customers and suppliers. As leaders, we have a responsibility to make sure the magic is there, that we feel joy and our team as well. Whether we are achieving or struggling, we have to find ways to ‘feel the wind in our hair’. To take pride in our work and make sure those on our teams are as well. You […]
Work Hard and Smart Everyday
Each of us in the workforce wants to believe that we are hard workers. It is recognized by leaders and coworkers everywhere. “Did you see Fred; he was here until 8:00pm?” Most leaders appreciate that type of dedication and it is true, sometimes, putting your “nose to the grind stone” and powering through a task is exactly what it takes to get the job done. But you shouldn’t overlook the necessity of working smart. Working smart affects your job satisfaction […]